After a three-year hiatus, a 2.5 km cycling race returned to Kayamandi with its biggest turnout yet. This was according to Sipho Madolo, programme manager of the Champions Race and alumnus of songo.info.
Matthew Beers leading the riders in the last leg of the recent Champions Race, with supporters cheering from the hilltop above the Kayamandi sportsgrounds. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn
“We were really surprised. We were not expecting as many people, or even so many riders,” said Madolo.
A total of 47 cyclists participated in the race, according to the event’s registration document. Olympic medalist Christoph Sauser, the founder of songo.info, said that the race had the best turnout for female riders since the first Champions Race in 2012. The registration document listed 11 female and 22 male participants of the elite category. Another 14 riders competed in the electronic-mountain biking (E-MTB) category, which was open to anyone.
Dozens of locals had gathered around the Kayamandi sportsgrounds to watch the race, which commenced at 16:00, said Madolo.
The organisation is a social development programme that aims to provide local children with more opportunities through sport and education, said Sauser.
Social progress through sport
“About a hundred kids benefit from [songo.info], with the end goal that they find connections after the programme and build a career,” said Sauser.
The programme introduces children to bicycle motocross (BMX) and mountain biking (MTB), and offers school support on digital learning platforms which they can access through computers at the songo.info clubhouse. This is according to the songo.info website.
The winners of the female and male elite categories in the Champions Race recently hosted in Kayamandi. Left: Anne Terpstra, from the Netherlands. Right: Matthew Beers, from South Africa. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn
Champion turnout
The participants of the race’s elite category were professional MTB riders from across the world, some of whom have won international competitions such as the Cape Epic. This was according to Darren Stow, the event’s operational manager.
“We have some of the world’s best [riders] here. Having their support and all the locals coming to watch their heroes […] was good,” said Stow. “The kids look up to someone like Christoph, who has an Olympic bronze medal [for MTB]. They see guys here that they see on TV, that inspires them.”
“It’s such a vibe out [on the track]. You’ve got all the kids and everyone else screaming for you,” said Matthew Beers, the winner of the men’s category and two-time Cape Epic champion. He told SMF News that he always enjoys racing in Kayamandi.
The race was Beers’ fourth time competing in the Champions Race, and his first time winning. Beers explained that “bicycles are universal”, and that they can offer children freedom.
Sauser said that the event seemed to have gained significant attention that prompted “a few” large donations from various individuals, whom he did not identify.
“Coming to South Africa and racing through the streets of a township, it’s something [MTB-riders] don’t do anywhere else in the world. A truly unique event,” said Stow.
Christoph Sauser, the founder of songo.info, signing autographs for local children after finishing the recent Champions Race in Kayamandi. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn